Method and apparatus for producing three-dimensional objects
First Claim
1. A method for producing a three-dimensional object layer by layer using a powdery material which can be solidified by irradiating the powdery material with a beam of charged particles, which method comprises the following steps:
- applying successive powder layers of the powdery material to a working area;
fusing together successive layers of said three-dimensional object by successively irradiating at least a part of the working area where the powdery layers are applied with said beam;
detecting lifting of at least a portion of the powdery material from the working area, said detecting being via a powder-lifting detection device configured for generating a detection signal upon the detection of the lifting of said at least a portion of the powdery material from the working area; and
based upon the detection of said lifting and upon the generated detection signal, automatically interrupting the irradiation of at least a part of the working area where the powder lifting occurs.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention concerns a method for producing three-dimensional objects (6) layer by layer using a powdery material which can be solidified by irradiating it with a beam (4) of charged particles, which method comprises the following steps: successive application of powder layers to a working area (5), and fusing together successive layers of said three-dimensional object (6) by successively irradiating the powdery layers with said beam (4). The invention is characterized in that it comprises the following steps: determining whether lifting of powdery material from the working area (5) occurs using a powder-lifting detection device (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 1Od, 1Oe) capable of generating a signal (S) upon detection of lifting of powdery material from the working area (5), and interrupting the irradiation of at least a part of the working area (5) where powder lifting occurs using the signal (S) generated by the powder-lifting detection device (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 1Oe) for automatically trigging the interruption. The invention also concerns an apparatus (1) for producing three-dimensional objects (6) layer by layer using a powdery material which can be solidified by irradiating it with a beam (4) of charged particles, said apparatus (1) comprising means for successive application of powder layers to a work table, and a radiation gun (3) for delivering said beam (4) of charged particles, wherein the inventive apparatus (1) comprises a powder-lifting detection device (10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e) capable of generating a signal (S) upon detection of lifting of powdery material from the working area (5).
119 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for producing a three-dimensional object layer by layer using a powdery material which can be solidified by irradiating the powdery material with a beam of charged particles, which method comprises the following steps:
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applying successive powder layers of the powdery material to a working area; fusing together successive layers of said three-dimensional object by successively irradiating at least a part of the working area where the powdery layers are applied with said beam; detecting lifting of at least a portion of the powdery material from the working area, said detecting being via a powder-lifting detection device configured for generating a detection signal upon the detection of the lifting of said at least a portion of the powdery material from the working area; and based upon the detection of said lifting and upon the generated detection signal, automatically interrupting the irradiation of at least a part of the working area where the powder lifting occurs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification